A genuine double-header

Another double-header!

Not through time pressures or laziness but because we made two trips on consecutive days.

So without further ado.

Trip 1:

Lake Vyrnwy RSPB Reserve, Tuesday 28th August 2018

We met in the car park and after initial greetings and pit stops following a longish journey we made straight for the tea room and enjoyed an early elevenses.

Refreshed we drove to the far end of the lake and took the Bala road for a mile or so, parking in a pull-off just after the road crossed the Afon Nadroedd.

Our first job was to change a wheel as one of the cars suffered a puncture.

In a spirit of co-operation the wheel was soon changed.

And the drone was launched

Photograph: Bob Kemp

 There was even time for a selfie (with company)!

Photograph: Bob Kemp

It beats holding the camera in front of you at arms' length or on a selfie-stick.

A quick exploration of the vegetation across the road from the cars located a fox moth larva.

Photograph: David Williams

From the cars we wandered down to the river. On the banks and on the road verge as it approached the bridge we found a good spread of eyebrights.

Photograph: David Williams

Crossing the bridge we wandered into a wet meadow, where there was a mixture of rushes, nettle and grass with the odd tree close to the stream bank.

The hoverfly Leucozona glaucia with its grey/blue abdominal bands posed for a photograph, so a photograph was taken.

Photograph: David Williams

As elevenses and punctures had delayed our start lunchtime soon arrived and, as there were some convenient rocks by the side of the stream, we succumbed, eating whilst appreciating the view and the carrot cake supplied by our host. What a life.

Photograph: David Williams

Lunch over we moved on to view the Pistyll Rhyd-y-meinciau on the Afon Eiddew. This required us to back-track a little to the appropriate car park. From here we made our way along a well trodden path to the falls making lots of stops on the way to have a look around.

After a while the path passed a dry stone wall. This was covered in lichens but one in particular caught our attention. This was Porpidia flavocruenta. According to our lichenologist "An unusual feature is the development of "umbos" (pointed elevation) in the middle of the apothecia ( "jam-tarts")".

Photograph: Bob Kemp

Whilst some were investigating the wall a couple of us looked at the grassland by the side of the river.

Unfortunately nothing of note was found.

On we went until we came to a patch of heathland on the side of the hill. 

From here there was a reasonable but distant view of the falls. The very tall tripod was employed once again.

Photograph: Bob Kemp

We took the opportunity for a rest. Unfortunately all the cake was gone.

Photograph: David Williams

On we went. Until a large rock provided a good perching point whilst looking at the falls which were still some way away.

Photograph: David Williams

On we went.

At last we were getting close. Only the bridge to cross.

And very shortly afterwards we were there.

All we had to do now was walk back then drive home.

My thanks to Sue Loughran for making the arrangements and to David Williams and Bob Kemp for their photographs.

Trip 2:

Postenplain, Wyre Forest, Wednesday, 29th August 2018

We assembled at the start of the forestry track that leads to Postenplain and from there made our way down the ride.

Unfortunately it was a little dark and dingy along the ride and a lack of an understory to the trees made finding things of interest difficult. However, undaunted, we tried: beating trees, sweeping the vegetation at the side of the path, turning over stones and dead wood and using a vacuum sampler.

Eventually we came to a wide clearing. Here the vegetation was much more mixed with bits of heathland, dry and wet grassland, shrubs and scrub.

Buried amongst all this vegetation was a black fungus, Entoloma chalybeum

Photograph: Bob Kemp

Independently two of us found examples of a tiny lace bug, Acalypta parvula.

Photograph: John Bingham

I noticed some movement in the grass and was able to capture the rather bizarre looking planthopper Eupelix cuspidata, with its elongated head, the fringe of which passes through the centre of its eyes.

Photograph: Bob Kemp

From the clearing we continued along a woodland ride then down a side path until we came to another clearing which in normal circumstances would be quite wet. This year the weather has not been normal and it was dry. That did not stop us looking for things of interest, for example Tutsan.

Photograph: Bob Kemp

Whilst others chose to have a rest and watch the world go by.

Time was marching on and we were, by our standards, a long way from the cars. So we started on our return journey,

We had gone barely 50 yards when we came across some large mushrooms with a dark cap and blood red pores. These were Boletus luridiformis.

Photograph: Bob Kemp

And this photograph gives me the opportunity to share with you another in the occasional series showing the lengths that a photographer will go to in order to get that perfect shot.

Following this we made our way sedately, with many pauses, back to the cars and home.

My thanks to the Forestry Commission for granting us permission to do what we enjoy doing and to John Bingham for making the arrangements. My thanks also to the photographers John Bingham and Bob Kemp for allowing me to use their photographs.